Beverage-dispensing device



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,451,688

C. M. EARL ET AL BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed'May 8, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 1 v Apr. 1 7, 1923. 1,451,688

C. M. EARL ET AL BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 8, 1922 5 sheets'sheet 2' Apr. 17, 1923.

C. M. EARL ET AL BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May a, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 5 CT MZ rZ Biz/ke Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. EARL AND BENJAMIN TE. WHEELER, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BEVERAGE-DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed May 8, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnannns lvl. EARL and BENJAMIN F. WHEELER, citizens of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan,

have invented a new and useful Beverage- Dispensing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beverage dispensers and particularly to devices for drawing carbonated beverage from storage tanks charged under comparatively high pressure. p

The invention has for its principal objects to provide simple and reliable means for properly drawing and suitably serving carbonated beverage from storage tanks under pressure, in which relief of the high tank pressure is effected to reduce the force of discharge and lessen the resultant effervescent or head effect upon the beverage when drawn from the tank; to provide for relief of the high gas pressure automatically in the operation of drawing the beverage into the dispenser, and in such manner as to effect an attractive display of the beverage while undergoing relief from such pressure; to provide for confining and utilizing the reduced pressure so as to always maintain the beverage drawn into the dispenser charged with sufiicient gas to retain the desired pungency and prevent its becoming flat or stale, as well as to set up the required pressure to facilitate drawing the beverag rapidly into the serving glass without excessive bead; to provide for automatic regulation and control to uniformly maintain the reduced pressure and to safeguard the dispenser against danger from excess pressure; to provide adequate cooling means to meet the requirement of proper low temperature essential to the satisfactory serving of soft drinks and finally to so embody these features in a device of this character as to secure ornamental attractiveness in design with convenience and facili y of operation in which delivery of the beverage in the most uniform and favorable condition is assured.

In attaining these objects the invention contemplates briefly the employment of a cooling tank containing a beverage receiving and discharging chamber, a two-way valve controlling delivery to and from said chamber a rotor in the chamber driven by Serial No. 559,203.

the force of the inflowing beverage to distribute the same upon the walls of the chamber and liberate the gas therefrom, a vent port in the top of said chamber for the escape of gas, and a flexible inflatable bag or balloon carrying an open ported valve controlling said vent port and likewise controlling the inflation of said. balloon, which in turn sets up and maintains a reduced pressure in said chamber regulated automatically by expansion and contraction of the balloon with movement of the valve controlling delivery to and from said chamber.

A preferred embodiment of the essential features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l a view in side elevation of the dispenser in which the balloon is shown as expanded and indicated by dotted lines as normally contracted.

Fig. EZ-is a central vertical sectional view of the device as shown in Fig. 1, indicating by dotted lines actuated positions of the two-way valve.

Fig. 3 is a sectional. elevation of a group of detached parts comprising the relief valve cup and upper portions of the beverage chamber.

Fig. st is a side elevation of the relief valve and indicating by dotted lines the balloon engaged therewith.

Referring to the parts illustrated in the drawings. 1 indicates a cylindrical sheet metal cooling tank adapted to be packed with ice, and provided with a supporting base and a removable top or cover 3. The tank. which is i arcfcrably of hollow wall construction, and which may be insulated to prevent sweating exteriorly, is provided with a coil 4 of block-tin pipe connected through the bottom of the tank by a nipple 5 with a feed pipe 6 leading from a storage tank (not shown) containing the beverage under pressure. The coil 4 is distributed upon the bottom of the tank being reduced and extended vertically centrally thereof, and rising within the coil and extending through an opening 3 in the cover 3 is a beverage receiving chamber 7 which comprises a sheet metal cylinder 8 having at its upper end a shouldered flange 8 for supporting the edge of the aperture 3 of the cover, and for the reception of a packing gasket 9 upon which mounted a glass cylsaid case is a valve stein 86 having pas. a

inder 10 extending above said cover. The lower end of the cylinder 8 is closed by fixed engagement with a tlai'iged head 11 having integral supporting legs 12 and provided with a radial inlet passage 13 which receives a threaded exterior nipple 145 and communicates interiorly with stand pipe seated in a hollow boss 16 formed centrally of said head, and an. outlet passe e 17 is formed through a nipple threaded nto the flanged wall 01" said head. The upger end of said chamber closed by a dome cap 19 peripherally flanged to receive a gasket 20 in engagement with the upper end. of the cylinder 10, and said cap is apertured as at 21 to receive the body of a tubular valve casing Said casing extends through said aperture and has a collar seatinga packing ashcr 2 lupon said dome cap and carries its inner end a reduced plug extension 25 internally screw-threaded as at 26 "for engagement with the screwthreaded upper end of tubular tie rod 27 which is spaced within the stand pipe 15 and secured at its lower end thr i 1 the boss 16 of the head 11 by a nut 27. said valve case and tubular tie rod thus serving to confine the several parts of the chamber together. and said rod also functioning in connection with a passage 28 through said plug to term a drain tor drippage from the valve case.

At the upper end, said stand pipe is contracted to snugly embrace the tie red as at 2'9 and is formed with a plurality of jet .1. A1 1 v a. apertures 30 ior toe dlscharge ol. neverrfige in an upward radially direr 'ing direct...in therefrom, and rotatably enil arcing the tie rod between said stand pipe and the plug oi the valve case is a disk rotor 81. mounted on a sleeve 32 and having}; a plurality of curved radially and circuin'ferentially extending propelling blades 33 adapted to be engaged and driven by the liquid beverage issuing from the jets 30 ot the stand pipe and to deflect and distribute the beverage upon the wallet the glass cylinder it) allowing the liquid to settle and the liberated to rise to the top of the beverage chamber. To provide reliei tor the higher gas pres sure and to insure the retention of a lower pressure in the beverage chamber, an outlet passage 3st is formed in the plug 25 ot the valve case 22 in communication with a valve port 35 formed in a raised seat on said plug axially within said valve case. and normally seated in. said port to more vertically in 37 axiallytherethrough, Said stem is formed with an enlarged cupped head 35% and a spaced collar- 39 having; peripheral projections '39" for sliding engagement with the wall of the valve case and to provide clearance tor the by-passarge oi when said stein'is raised from its seat. At its upper 'endfsa'i'd. stem is slightly flared and formed from the valve case through ere haustoorts ei-Zl therein. 2% and l.) l el .cry of the beverage to and from the chamber 7 is controlled by a two-way valve mounted erteriorly oi. the tank (see his; 2), said valve coin n'isingr a casing 1- having}; a return branched inlet passage 41o intersection on opening through a disc aid are concoininon by a rotati've valve phin; p 4:9 and proa handle by which it may be :0 alternativ QQlStt-ll the valve outlet passages respecti e branch of the r connected r .h the inner the coil by a pipe coupling through the wall of the rew-tln'eaded en gageinent ve case is and the other branch I Jane is similarly connected by a npe coupling nipple 52 with one end of a eetion 53 which extends partly around 11 and is connected at its opposite I the nipple 1e oi the inlet passage 16 of said head, tins establishing connection between the coil and l .pe tl'irough the led by the valve, the ou tti controlled by said valve being connected through a nipple with a pine secured at one end in the nipple l8 p: 1? of the'chainber 7. passage 49 is normally .1. a neutral position interand outlet passages of the see by a spring pressed detent 56 carried in the l'iandle 50 and yieldably enga ggingr a depression 5. in said valve casc. i the operation of the device, movement 1e valve handle to the vertical dotted tion shown in l igr. 2 willv register the passage ot the valve plug); with both branches of the inlet pa 7 e 45. through \inich and the pipe :1? he\ rage under pressure in the coil +2 from the supply pipe (3 will be admitted. to the stand-pipe 1.5. from whence it will discharge throunh the ports iii). engaging; and revolving the blades 33 ot the rotor. by action of which the beverage free from the valve case, with the flared end '42 of said valve case a lifting pressure will then be exerted upon the valve stem 39 increasing with the further expansion of said balloon to the point oi overcoming the weight of said stem when the latter will. be raised from the seat in the passage 34 allowing the gas to escape through said passage from the chamber 7, as well as through the passage 37 from the balloon into the valve case and through the exhaust ports 4-3 therein to the atmosphere.

Upon returning the valve handle to its neutral position, the valve stem 39 will antomatically seat by gravity immediately the escaping pressure allows the balloon to con tract suficiently to clear the top of the valve case, thus cutting off further escape of pressure through the ports 43 and reestablishing communication between the passage 34: and 37 through which the pressure retained by a the balloon will be exerted upon the beverage accommodated in. the chamber 7. lVhen the valve handle is shiited to the horizontal dotted position indicated in Fig. 2, the passage 49 of the valve plug will be caused to register through the pipe connection 55 with the outlet passage 17 of the chamber 7 and with the outlet passage 46 of the valve spout from which the beverage in said chamber will be discharged under the gas pressure stored in the balloon. The capacity of the balloon is sufficient to retain and set up the required gas pressure to discharge a chamher full of beverage so that when the discharge is cut oil by returning the valve handle to neutral any beverage remaining in the chamber will be charged with suiticient gas to prevent flattening and will also be retained under the low temperature within the cooler always in suitable condition to serve.

It will be noted that in addition to the lifting leverage exerted upon the relief valve stem by pressure of the wall of the balloon upon the valve case, said stem is also subject to the buoyant lifting tendency of the gas in the balloon and is therefore rendered sensitive and positive in responsive action to variations in pressure, so that liability of injury to the container or balloon resulting from the development of excessive pressure through failure of the valve to lift is entirely eliminated If, however, the balloon should. from any cause become damaged and unfit for use, it may be quickly replaced by a new one upon removal of the valve stem through the open end of the valve case in which it is readily accessible.

A desirable feature in the commercial use of the dispenser is the visual efiect roduced by the expanding and contracting oi the balloon Which tends to attract attention to the beverage displayed, in the containe While the surface of the balloon aflords prominent space for effectively displaying appropriate matter advertising the goods.

lVhat we claim is:

1. In a beverag dispensing device, a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, and a receptacle for gas enclosing said outlet and adapted under predetermined pressure oigas to open said outlet and vent said chamber.

2. In a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and-having an outlet .t'or gas, and a buoyant receptacle communicating with and normally closing said outlet and operable under predetermined pressure of gas to open said outlet to vent said chamber.

3. In a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, and an inflatable receptacle in communication with said chamber and normally closing said outlet and operable under inflation by pressure of gas to open said outlet and ventsaid chamber.

4. In a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve normally closing said outlet, and a buoyant container for gas communicating with said chamber and operably associated with said valve to effect opening of the latter under predetermined pressure of gas in said container.

5. I11 a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve controlling said outlet, and a yieldable receptacle "for gas communicating with said chamber and operatively associated with said valve to eii'ect actuation of the latter under variations of pressure of gas in said chamher.

6. In a beverage dispensing device. a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and. having anoutlet for gas. a valve normally closing said outlet and having a passage for gas therethrough, and a buoyant receptacle for gas engaging said valve and operable under pressure of; gas admitted through said passage for raising said valve to vent said chamber.

7. In a beverage dispensing device. a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve normally closing said outlet and having a passage tor gas therethrough, and an inflatable receptacle engaging said valve and operable under expansion by pressure of gas admitted through said passage 01- opening said valve 130 vent said container.

8. In a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve case communicating With said chamber and having an outlet for gas, a valve normally closing said outlet and having a passage for gas therethrough, and an elastic receptacle embracing said valve and engageable With said valve case upon inflation by pressure of gas admitted through said passage for raising said valve to open said outlet.

9. In a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having an inlet for beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve normally closing said outlet, and an expansible receptacle communicating With said chamber and engaging said valve and operable under expansion by pressure of gas to engage said container and elfect raising of said valve to vent said outlet.

10. In a beverage dispensing device, a

container having valve controlled inlet and 7 outlet passages for the admission and discharge of beverage under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve controlling said outlet, and gas receiving means operable under variations of pressure controlled by said first mentioned valve for actuating said outlet valve to regulate pressure of gas in said chamber.

l1 In a beverage dispensing device, a chamber having a valve controlled inlet and outlet for beverage under gas pressure, and a resilient receptacle for receiving and st0r ing gas from beverage admitted to said chamber upon opening said valve controlled inlet and for setting up pressure to discharge beverage from said chamber upon closing said inlet and opening said valve controlled outlet.

second named valve to regulate )ressure oi gas in said chamber.

13. A beverage dispensing device comprising in combination a beverage supply container, a beverage chamber Within said container having an inlet and an outlet for beverage, under gas pressure and having an outlet for gas, a valve exteriorof said container controlling said inlet and outlet for beverage, a valve exterior of said beverage chamber controlling said outlet for gas, and a gas storage chamber controlling said last named valve and controlled by variations of pressure induced by actuation of said first named valve.

14. A beverage dispensing device comprising in combination, a container having in-' let and outlet pipes for conducting beverage under gas pressure, a beverage chamber in communication With said inlet and outlet pipes Within said container and having an outlet for gas, a valve on said container con trolling said inlet and outlet pipes, a valve on said beverage chamber controlling said outlet for gas, and a buoyant container for in communication with said beverage chamber and controlling said last named valve under variations of pressure in said chamber induced by actuation of said first named valve.

15. In a beverage dispensingdevice, the combination with a container having valve controlled means for circulating and delivering beverage under gas pressure, of albeverage chamber extending vertically from Within said container and having an inlet and an outlet for beverage in communication with said circulating means and having an outlet for gas at the top of said chamber, means for discharging beverage Within the upper portion of said chamber to liberate the gas therein, and means controlling said outlet for gas and maintaining pressure in said chamber less than that under which said beverage is admitted through said valve controlled means.

16. Ina liquid dispensing device, a chainber having an inlet and an outlet for liquid under gas pressure, and yieldable means associated With said chamber for receiving and storing gas evolved with the inlet of liquid thereto and for returning such gas to said chamber With the outlet of liquid therefrom.

In testimony \vbcreo'l we sign this specification.

CHARLES M. EARL. BENJAMIN F. WHEELER, 

